By Jessica Wilson
This project makes for a great baby gift and you don’t even need to be extra handy with a sewing machine to make it!
Materials
Receiving or cuddle blanket
1 yard coordinating fabric
Various ribbon scraps, totaling about 3 yards
Needle and thread, or sewing machine
Scissors
Pins
Directions
Step 1: Iron out any creases in your baby blanket. A receiving blanket is perfect for this but some companies make cuddle blankets that are a bit smaller, and these will work as well. I used a cuddle blanket. Iron out your yardage also — your yardage will be larger than your blanket.
Step 2: Lay your yardage down on the floor or large workspace right side up and position the blanket on top of yardage, right side down.
Step 3: Pin the 2 pieces together around the perimeter. This is just to tack them down so you can trim excess yardage away from the blanket. Use your scissors to trim the excess yardage.
Step 4: Gather your ribbons and cut them into 2″ to 4″ lengths. Use a variety of colors and prints. The more variety you have, the happier the blanket! You should have about 26 pieces of ribbon.
Step 5: Bring the ribbon over to your workspace near your pinned pieces. Select one piece and fold it in half, right side facing out. Tuck it between the yardage and the blanket, fold side in, so that a tiny bit (about 1/8″) of the tail end peeks out between the layers. Pin into place.
Repeat for each piece of ribbon going around the perimeter of your blanket and yardage. Leave about 3″ of fabric from each corner free of ribbon pieces. Try a random approach so your edges aren’t too matchy-matchy, and leave a longer tail on some so that your ribbon lengths are uneven as well.
You may choose not to use all of your ribbon scraps, depending on the size of your blanket and the widths of your ribbon. Make sure to keep the ribbon lengths under 4″; we do not want any baby fingers or toes to get tangled up in the pieces. Never leave an infant unattended on a tag happy blanket. Some of them wee ones are just too smart!
Step 6: Bring the whole pinned party to your sewing machine and stitch around the perimeter with a straight stitch, about 1/4″ in from the edges. If your blanket has a trimmed edge, stitch inside the edge to keep your machine from getting all cranky at you — those trimmed edges can be pretty thick. Leave about 6″ on one side open for turning out. Trim around all the edges to even it out.
Step 7: Turn out the blanket through your opening. Press with an iron to flatten out the seams.
Step 8: Tuck the raw edges of the opening into the opening and pin them closed at the edge. Bring the whole thing back to the sewing machine. Using a running stitch, stitch around the whole shebang about 1/4″ in from the edges.
Step 9: That’s it, you’re done! Admire your handy work, and roll up the blanket in tissue like an enormous salt water taffy. Toss your blanket over a chair to delight in all it’s candy-colored goodness. Place it in the floor and place the baby on top. Whatever you choose, the blanket will make your day just a smidge brighter with all that color!
About the Author:
Jessica Wilson is most happily known as ‘jek in the box’ and spends most of her time crafting it up and taking pictures. She can often be found standing on benches over on Flickr and creating all sorts of kiddie crafts on her blog scrumdilly-do! She lives a life of scrumdillydilly and loves to share. Keep up with her on road trip adventures this spring and summer on a-go-gos.blogspot.com.
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